CRICH PARISH

Biography
Maurice was born in 1896. He entered France in July 1915 and was wounded and gassed four times. After demob he moved to Birmingham, marrying Elsie May Blackham in 1919.

His friend John Wragg enlisted in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry at the start of the war. Both served together in the same company until John was killed in 1917.

Photos courtesy Tricia Mitchell

Maurice Perry standing; seated left believed to be his friend Jack Wragg

Maurice Perry marrying Elsie May Blackham 30 March 1919

Newspaper Reports

Derbyshire Times, 20 January 1917
CRICH MAN WOUNDED
Mr and Mrs Charles Perry, Market Place Crich, have received a field service postcard from their son Lance Corporal Maurice Perry (Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry) stating that he had been wounded and was in hospital. He has been in France for the last two years and has been in almost all the big battles. He has two other brothers in the Army, vis. Gunner Arthur Perry (R.F.A.) and Private Henry Perry (Sherwoods). The two latter have also been wounded. The three brothers joined immediately the war broke out.

Derbyshire Courier, 1 September 1917
CRICH CASUALTIES
N.C.O. killed
Cpl John T. Wragg, eldest son of Mr John W. Wragg, newsagent, Crich, has been killed in action. The sad intelligence reached Mr and Mrs Wragg on Friday in a letter from second lieutenant P.M.Whiteley, B. Co– Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Lt Whiteley says – "I am extremely grieved to have to inform you that your son was killed in action on the morning of 16 August whist helping to play his part in the great British advance, being at this time of his death in charge of a Lewis gun team. For a long time he'd been one of the very best men in action in the company, and he took a most intelligent interest in the plan of operations. He will be greatly missed by all of us here. Kindly accept my deepest sympathy." Confirmation of the news has been forwarded to Crich by Cpl Maurice Perry, who is in the same company. He has written to his parents, who live near the Marketplace, stating that his chum, Cpl Wragg had been killed. It is only about six weeks ago since Cpl Wragg was over at Crich for his first leave, after two and a half years in France. During this time he'd been wounded three times, once very seriously, when he was shot in the head by a sniper on 8 October, 1915. His sound physique, however, pulled him through, and he afterwards was often in the thick of the fighting. He and his chum, Cpl Maurice Perry, joined the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry immediately at the outbreak of war and throughout the three years they have been together. Cpl Wragg, who was 24 years of age was a miner at the Oakerthorpe colliery before his enlistment.

Derbyshire Courier, 15 December 1917
WOUNDED
Pte. Maurice Perry, Crich
Pte. Fred Taylor, Crich
Pte. William Frost, Crich

Derbyshire Courier, 23 February 1918
CRICH, LEA & HOLLOWAY
Soldiers over on leave during the week include Dispatch Rider Herbert Mercer (R.E.), who came on Sunday. He has been in France since September, nineteen fifteen, and was last on leave about ten months ago. Lance-Corporal John Curzon, of the Tors, has been over, having recently recovered from shrapnel wounds in his shoulder. Cpl Herbert Cooper, of Fritchley, another wounded soldier, came over last Friday, after spending three weeks in Southampton Hospital, suffering with trench foot. He came from the Arras front. Driver Samuel Lynam, son of Mr F.J.Lynam is another Fritchley soldier over from France. Signaller Arthur Bowmer, one of the four soldier sons of Mr and Mrs John Bowmer, of the Cross, came from France on Tuesday. Signaller Arthur Perry, Machine Gunner, Maurice Perry, and Private Charles Perry, the three fighting sons of Mr and Mrs C.Perry of the Market Place, have also been over together. The two former have been in France for about three years, never met each other. Maurice has been wounded and gassed four times.

Maurice's three brothers Arthur Perry, Charles Henry Perry and George Geoffrey Perry are also on the Roll of Honour.